Clothes-pin.



No. 862,745. PATBNTED AUG. e, 1907.

v J. P. MARSHALL.

CLOTHES PIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31, 1906.

WITNESSES; [NVE/VTOR.

m I A TTORNE VS JAMES P. MARSHALL, OF FARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY.

CLOTHES-PIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed August 31,1906. Serial No. 832,828,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES .P. h/IARSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bardstown, in the county of Nelson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Pin, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes pins and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character having a pair of spring clamping jaws adapted to engage the garment or garments for holding the same in position on the line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic clothes pin capable of being adjusted longitudinally of the line and adapted to remain in position on the line after the garments or articles have been removed.

A further object is to provide a swivel connection between the supporting ring and shank of the pin whereby the latter may be reversed and caused to engage the garment on either side of the pin.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothes pin constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same in engagement with a garment. Fig; 2 is a perspective view of the clothes pin in inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing a slightly modified form of the loop or eye by which the ring 13 is held in place.

Similar numerals of reference indicate correspond ing parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved device consists of a substantially cylindrical body portion 5 preferably formed of spring metal and having its adjacent longitudinal edges spaced apart at 6 to form a pair of spring clamping jaws 7 adapted to engage a garment, indicated at 8. One end of the body portion is extended to form a longitudinally disposed shank 9 the free end of which is provided with a transverse opening or aperture 10 in which is swiveled a loop or eye 11. The loop or eye 11 is preferably formed of a single piece of wire the opposite ends of which are bent laterally in engagement with the curved exterior walls of the shank 9, as indicated at 12.

Threaded through the loop or eye 11 is a supporting ring 13 which serves to suspend the pin from the line 14 so that the pin may be supported on the line after the clothes or garments have been removed.

By having the pin suspended from the line in the manner described said pin may be adjusted longitudinally oi the line and moved into engagement with a garment on either side of the pin, as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Secured to the side walls of the body portion 5 in any suitable manner as by rivets or similar fastening devices 15 are laterally extending finger pieces 16 by means of which the jaws may be moved to open position thereby to permit the jaws to be pressed downwardly over the line and in engagement with the garments or other articles supported thereon.

In operation the 'pin is swung upwardly on the ring 13 to a position above the line after which the operator presses inwardly on the finger pieces 16 which opens jaws and thus permits the latter to be positioned over the line and in engagement with the garment, the spring clamping action of the jaws 7 serving to prevent accidental displacement of the garment.

The pin may be swung laterally on the loop 11, so as to cause the same to engage a garment on either side of the pin as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In order to remove the garments it is merely necessary to press inwardly on the finger pieces and at the same time elevate the pin when the garment may be readily detached from the line, the pin dropping by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the same may be adjusted longitudinally on the line and again used when the occasion requires.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided an extremely simple, inexpensive and efficient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A clothes pin comprising a body portion having spring clamping jaws adapted to engage a garment, means for suspending the pin from the clothes line, and a swivel connection between the suspension means and body portion.

2. A clothes pin comprising a substantially cylindrical body portion having its adjacent longitudinal edges spaced apart to form a pair of spring clamping jaws adapted to engage a garment, a shank extending longitudinally from one end of the body portion, a ring having a swivel connection with the shank and adapted to receive the clothes line, and finger pieces extending laterally from the clamping jaws for moving the latter to open position.

3. A clothes pin comprising a split tube having its adjacent longitudinal edges spaced apart to form spring clamping jaws and one end thereof extended to form a shank, a loop swiveled in the free end of the shank, a ring threaded through the loop for supporting the clothes pin on the line, and means for moving the clamping jaws to open position.

4, A clothes pin comprising a cylindrical body portion having its adjacent longitudinal edges spaced apart to form a pair of spring clamping jaws adapted to engage a garment, one end of the body portion being extended to produce a transversely curved shank forming a continu 5 ation of the curved wall of the body portion and provided at its free end with an opening, a loop formed of a single piece of wire the opposite ends of which are extended through the opening and bent laterally into engagement with the curved wall of the shank, a ring threaded through 10 the loop and adapted to receive the line for suspending the clothes from the same, and laterally extending finger pieces secured to the side walls of the body portion for moving the jaws to open position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretdafiixed my signature in the presence of two 15 witnesses.

JAMES P. MARSHALL.

Witnesses Gno. S. FULTON, R. C. CHERRY. 

